JPH08315162A - Shape processor - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To easily generate a beautiful character of high quality in a short time by supposing that when one feature point corresponds to N feature points, N piece of identical feature points are repeatedly present at the position, and specifying specific reference or conditions. CONSTITUTION: Various shapes of a variety of characters are obtained from a character which is inputted by using a pointing device and a character font which is already stored in a computer by using a character shape acquiring means 1. Plural shapes of some of the characters, e.g. characters having the same character code are made to correspond to each other by using a character correspondence means 2. According to the plural shapes of the characters which have been made to correspond, the specific reference or conditions are specified and a character generating means 3 having an intermediate shape generates an intermediate shape character. Further, the character shape acquiring means 1 includes a feature point storage means, the character correspondence means 2 includes a correspondence relation means, and the character generating means 3 having the intermediate shape includes an intermediate line generating means.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a shape processing method for generating a new character shape by deforming a Mincho typeface, a Gothic typeface, or other various typefaces.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In recent years, word processors and personal computers have become widespread due to the development of computers and their peripheral technologies, and along with that, input devices such as keyboards, mice, pens, tablets, touch panels, scanners, cameras, and output devices such as printers and displays. Has also developed. With the development of these devices, devices capable of high-resolution and high-definition input / output have been commercialized, especially in devices centering on images such as scanners, displays, and printers. Along with this increase in resolution and definition, typefaces, which are generally called character fonts, have been converted into digital data and handled on a computer, and have begun to be used as a high-quality character output means.

In the era when there were only low-resolution input / output devices in the early days, most of the characters handled on a computer were represented by dots as character fonts, but with the advent of high-resolution input / output devices. Along with the outline of the character,
For example, a method of handling character fonts called so-called outline fonts, which are expressed by curved lines such as splines, on a computer has been born. This outline
By expression, various typefaces such as Mincho typeface and Gothic type which have existed as characters from old times have been ported to outline fonts on a computer one after another.

On the other hand, with the development of scanners, it has become possible to faithfully input drawings including characters by capturing drawings and the like as high-resolution image data on a computer regardless of printing or handwriting. . Also,
A so-called pointing device for inputting coordinates such as a mouse, a pen, a tablet, and a touch panel has been developed in an image-based user interface, and a person can directly insert handwritten characters. Even when transforming the shape of a character input by such various input means, it is becoming possible to perform transform editing by moving a control point of a spline using a pointing device such as a mouse.

[0005]

However, it is not easy to transform and edit the characters captured by a scanner or input with a pen to produce beautiful characters, for example.
In addition, the number of characters is extremely large compared to English, etc., especially in the case of Japanese, so it is necessary to make the character fonts outlines that can be handled on a computer, and in order to make each of them high quality, a considerable number of people The problem is that it takes time to work with the designer.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shape processing apparatus capable of easily producing high quality and beautiful characters in a short time.

[0007]

According to the present invention of claim 1, a feature point storing means for storing feature points of various shapes for various characters and a feature point between predetermined various shapes for each character. The correspondence relation designating means for designating the correspondence relation and the designated correspondence relation have one feature point N (N is 2 or more).
In the case of corresponding to one feature point, it is considered that the one feature point is duplicated at the position of the one feature point, and N points are present, and a predetermined reference or condition is designated to obtain a predetermined shape. And a line segment between the line segment between the two predetermined feature points and the line segment between the two feature points of other shapes corresponding to the predetermined two feature points. It is a shape processing device.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a feature point designating means for designating a feature point of a handwritten character, a feature point storage means for storing a feature point of various shapes for various characters, and a handwritten character for each character. And a correspondence relation designating means for designating a correspondence relation between feature points between predetermined shapes of the handwritten character and the same character, and the designated correspondence relation is one feature point is N (N is 2 or more). In the case of corresponding to one feature point, it is considered that the one feature point is duplicated at the position of the one feature point and N pieces are present, and by designating a predetermined criterion or condition, the handwritten character An intermediate line that generates an intermediate line between a line segment between two predetermined feature points of a shape and a line segment between two feature points of another shape of the same character corresponding to the two predetermined feature points. A shape processing apparatus including a generation unit.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided character font storage means for storing a plurality of different character fonts for various characters, and characteristic information storage means for storing characteristic information regarding the character shape of each stored character font. A character font selection means for selecting a plurality of different character fonts having the same character code from the character fonts stored in the character font storage means, and a shape of the plurality of different character fonts selected based on the characteristic information. A shape processing device comprising character font associating means and character generating means for generating a character font having an intermediate shape from a plurality of associated character fonts by designating a predetermined reference or condition.

[0010]

According to the present invention, the correspondence specifying means, for each character,
A correspondence relationship between feature points between various predetermined shapes is designated, and the intermediate line generating means corresponds to the designated correspondence relationship where one feature point corresponds to N (N is 2 or more) feature points. In this case, it is considered that the one feature point is duplicated in N positions at the position of the one feature point, and a predetermined criterion or condition is designated, whereby two predetermined feature points of a predetermined shape are specified. An intermediate line between the line segment between them and the line segment between two feature points of other shapes corresponding to the predetermined two feature points is generated.

[0011]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings showing its embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, for example, a character shape acquisition unit 1 is provided from a character input using an image input device such as a scanner or a camera or a pointing device such as a tablet, a pen or a mouse, or a character font originally stored in a computer or the like. It is used to obtain various shapes of various characters. From the acquired characters of various shapes, for example, a plurality of shapes of characters having the same character code are associated using the character associating unit 2. By designating a predetermined criterion or condition from a plurality of shapes of the associated characters, the character generation means 3 having an intermediate shape is used to generate an intermediate shape character. Here, the above-mentioned character shape acquisition means 1 includes a feature point storage means, the character correspondence means 2 includes a correspondence relationship designation means, and the character generation means 3 having an intermediate shape includes an intermediate line generation means.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the shape processing apparatus corresponding to the handwritten character correction of the second embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 2, handwritten character shape acquisition means 201
Is used to acquire the shape of the handwritten character, and the character shape acquiring unit 202 is used to acquire the shape of the character from, for example, a character font already on the computer. The obtained shape of the handwritten character and the shape of the character font having the same character code as the handwritten character are associated with each other by the code associating means 20.
Correspond by using 3. An intermediate shape character is generated from the associated shape of the handwritten character and the shape of the character font using the character generation means 204 having an intermediate shape. The above-mentioned code associating means 203 includes a feature point specifying means and a correspondence relationship specifying means. Further, the character output means 205 constitutes a character display means.

Next, the generated character is output to the character output means 2
05 is used to output to, for example, a display or a printer. The output character is presented to, for example, the creator of the handwritten character, and the creator further transforms it using the character transforming means 206 to obtain a character that suits the creator's preference. In addition, by preparing a pen typeface etc. as a character font on the computer and generating a character with an intermediate shape while changing the weight based on factors such as the smoothness of the curve and the sharpness of the bounce, it becomes a model. It can be used as a handwritten calligraphy based on.

FIG. 7 illustrates an example of generating an intermediate shape character between a handwritten character and a pen typeface in the second embodiment. In FIG. 7, the handwritten character “O” 701 input using a pen input or an image capturing device or the like.
And its character code (here, JIS code: 0x24
30) It is shown that the pen typeface 703 corresponding to 702 is aligned 704, and the intermediate shape character 705 is displayed using the character generation means 204 having an intermediate shape.
After that, for example, the line segment of the newly generated character 705 is interpolated with a spline curve, and the control point is operated by the creator of the handwritten character, so that it is possible to freely transform it according to the intention. Becomes In this example, the pen typeface was the target of the example, but other typefaces such as regular typefaces and line typefaces are also created by the designer's hand and have sufficient quality. It is also possible to use.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing apparatus using a partial shape according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
In FIG. 3, the character shape acquisition unit 301 is used to acquire the shapes of a plurality of different characters for various characters. With respect to each of the acquired shapes of the characters, using the character part shape cutting-out means 302 which is a character decomposing means, based on a predetermined rule or by specifying a condition,
Each is decomposed into subfigures. A plurality of different-shaped partial figures are associated with each other by using the character partial figure associating means 303 for each of the decomposed identical partial figures. From the associated character subfigures, intermediate subfigures are generated using the subfigure generating means 304 having an intermediate shape.
A new character is generated from the generated partial figure having the intermediate shape by using the character assembling unit 305. In this way, even if a character is not actually written by hand by the creator by using the partial figure, when the same partial figure is used for the target character such as "bounce" or "harai", It is possible to generate a new character by generating an intermediate shape partial graphic from the partial graphic.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of the shape processing apparatus using the averaging means of the fourth embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 4, the handwritten character shape acquisition unit 401 is used to acquire a plurality of different shapes of handwritten characters. For each shape of the acquired handwritten character, it is decomposed into partial graphics by using the character partial shape cutout means 402. The partial shapes of the decomposed handwritten characters are associated with each other by using the character part graphic association means 403. With respect to the shapes of the associated character partial graphics, the character partial graphic averaging means 404 is used to create a partial graphic having an averaged shape. From the averaged partial graphic and the partial graphic of the same part having a character shape different from the original handwritten character, a partial graphic is generated by using the partial graphic generation means 405 having an intermediate shape. A new character is generated from the generated partial graphic by using the character assembling unit 406. The generated character is output to, for example, a display or a printer using the character output unit 407. For example, the output character is presented to the creator of the handwritten character, and the creator further modifies the character using the character modifying unit 408, so that the character suitable for the creator can be obtained. In this way, not only the entire character but also the partial figure can be deformed, so that the so-called "habit" of the character of the creator is reflected in the newly generated character.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing apparatus using a protruding portion extracting means of a fifth embodiment according to the present invention. In FIG. 5, the handwritten character shape acquisition unit 501 is used to acquire a plurality of different shapes of the handwritten character. A plurality of shapes of the acquired handwritten characters are decomposed into partial figures by using the character part shape cutout unit 502. The respective partial shapes of the decomposed handwritten characters are associated with each other by using the character part graphic association unit 503. For each of the associated character partial graphics, the character partial graphic protrusion extraction unit 504 is used to extract the partial graphics with the highest degree of deformation from the average of all the associated character partial graphics. A partial figure is generated from the extracted partial figure and a partial figure of the same portion as a character different from the original handwritten character by using the partial figure generating means 505 having an intermediate shape. A new character is generated from the generated partial graphic using the character assembling unit 506. The generated character is output to, for example, a display or a printer using the character output unit 507. For example, the output character is presented to the creator of the handwritten character, and the creator further deforms it using the character deforming means 508 to obtain a character emphasizing the characteristics of the creator. It is possible to obtain a character that has a unique character, with the "habit" of the character of the creator being noticeable.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing apparatus using a character font according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 6, a character font having the same character code is selected from a plurality of different character fonts 601 for various characters using a code associating unit 602, and the selected character fonts are associated with each other. Character font characteristic information of each associated character font 6
Based on 04, a new character font is generated by the character font generation means 603 having an intermediate shape. Here, it is assumed that the character font characteristic information is prepared in advance in the storage device together with the character font, but it is also possible to process the character font characteristic information extracted from the character font according to the automatically set rule. It is also possible to process image data that has a character font from a printed matter. Here, the code associating unit 602 described above constitutes a character font selecting unit and a character font associating unit.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a part of the character font characteristic information in the above embodiment. In FIG. 8, 8
01 is the outline of the character. Characteristic points 802, closed curve line segment subfigures 803, skeleton line segments 804, and the like are given as examples obtained from this contour line. Various feature points of 802 are conceivable, such as a discontinuity point, an angle point with the maximum curvature, a connection point where a straight line and a curve are connected, and a cusp point where the second derivative is discontinuous. Further, as the partial figure, in addition to the figure shown in 803 that is decomposed into a closed curve with four or less corner points, a figure with an open curve with a certain number of corner points or characteristic points A variety of things are possible, such as subfigures according to regulations such as flat and straw. The skeleton line segment of 804 can be defined as the center line of the area within the long-side contour line, but complete automatic extraction has not been completed at present, and one that has been manually input or modified in advance is used. .

The character font characteristic information listed in the above items 801 to 804 is a part of what can be used in generating the intermediate shape, and other characteristics such as the center of gravity, the perimeter of the contour line, and the dispersion of the character area. Is not excluded from the present invention. Further, although the above four items are given as the character font characteristic information, the invention can be applied not only to the character font but also to a character such as a handwritten character which is taken into the computer by some means.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of generating the intermediate shape in the above embodiment. In FIG. 9, 901 is a square Gothic typeface, and 902 is a round Gothic typeface, which is a character “Naga” having the same character code. It is possible to generate intermediate shapes with any other typeface. In order to generate a character having an intermediate shape from these two typefaces associated with each other, a method of associating 903 of feature points in a contour line, a skeleton line, or the like, or 904 of partial curves can be considered.

When using 903 feature points, it is not always 1
There is a case where there is no one-to-one correspondence and there is no many-to-one correspondence or a corresponding destination. The automatic extraction of all of these correspondences has not been completed at present because there are an unlimited number of types of text and figures.Correspondence by the operator's hand or matching rules for proximity points input by the operator It is possible to extract semi-automatically according to the above. A character having an intermediate shape is generated by creating a midpoint between the associated feature points and connecting the created midpoints of the feature points with an appropriate interpolation curve. When an intermediate shape is created from the associated feature points, it is possible to create a weighted intermediate shape by using a weighted point instead of the middle point.

Even when the partial curve 904 is used, there is not always a one-to-one correspondence, as in the case of the feature points. Automatic extraction is more difficult, and at present, the association by the operator's hand is the main focus. A center curve is generated from the associated curves or between straight lines to generate a character having an intermediate shape. Similarly to the feature point, it is also possible to create a weighted intermediate shape by generating an intermediate line segment that is partially or wholly weighted instead of the center. For the interpolation of the feature points and the curve, it is possible to use one that can be expressed as smooth as a spline curve and can be expressed as a corner point.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of creating a character font having an intermediate shape in the above embodiment. A font 1003 having an intermediate shape is generated from 1001 square Gothic typefaces and 1002 round Gothic typefaces.

As described above, according to the present invention, a corresponding character and a shape or a partial shape are obtained from a plurality of characters or partial shapes having different shapes, and an intermediate shape is obtained from the shape or the partial shape of the associated character. It is possible to easily generate a new character by obtaining a character or a partial shape of the character and a character having an individual characteristic based on a handwritten character.

In each of the above embodiments, the description was made for characters, but not limited to characters and typefaces, it is possible to generate a figure having an intermediate shape among a plurality of figures that can be associated with each other. There is also a graphic processing method using a geometric curve such as a circle or a square as an example.

Further, in each of the above embodiments, each means is constituted by dedicated hardware, but instead of this, instead of this,
The same function may be realized by software using a computer.

[0029]

As is clear from the above description, the present invention has an advantage that high quality and beautiful characters can be easily created in a short time.

In addition, when using handwritten characters, there is an advantage that characters that take advantage of individual characteristics can be easily generated.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing device that supports handwritten character correction according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing apparatus using a partial shape according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing apparatus using an averaging means according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing apparatus using a protruding portion extracting means according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of a shape processing device using a character font according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing an example of generating an intermediate shape character between a handwritten character and a pen typeface in the second embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of a part of character font feature information according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing an example of generating an intermediate shape in the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of creating a character font having an intermediate shape in the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 202, 301 Character shape acquisition means 2 Character association means 3, 204 Character generation means 201, 401, 501 Handwritten character shape acquisition means 203, 602 Code association means 303, 403, 503 Character partial figure Corresponding means 205, 407, 507 Character output means 206, 408, 508 Character transforming means 604 Character font characteristic information

Claims (13)

[Claims] 1. A feature point storage means for storing feature points of various shapes for various characters, and a correspondence relation designating means for designating, for each character, a predetermined correspondence relation between the feature points of the various shapes. , The specified correspondence is such that one feature point is N (N is 2
(Above), when it corresponds to the number of feature points, it is considered that the one feature point is duplicated at the position of the one feature point and that N points are present, and a predetermined criterion or condition is designated to determine the predetermined value. And an intermediate line generating means for generating an intermediate line between a line segment between two predetermined feature points of the shape and a line segment between two feature points of another shape corresponding to the two predetermined feature points. A shape processing apparatus comprising: 2. A feature point designating means for designating feature points of handwritten characters, a feature point storage means for storing feature points of various shapes for various characters, and the handwritten character and its handwritten character for each character. Correspondence specifying means for specifying the correspondence between the feature points of the predetermined shapes of the same character, and the designated correspondence is that one feature point is N (N is 2).
(Above), when it corresponds to the number of feature points, it is considered that the one feature point is duplicated in N positions at the position of the one feature point, and a predetermined criterion or condition is designated, Generating an intermediate line between a line segment between two predetermined feature points of the shape of a handwritten character and a line segment between two feature points of another shape of the same character corresponding to the two predetermined feature points. A shape processing device, comprising: 3. The character generating means for generating a character by connecting the intermediate line generated by the intermediate line generating means, further comprising:
Shape processing device described. 4. A different shape feature point designating means for designating feature points of various shapes for various handwritten characters, and a correspondence relationship between the feature points between the various shapes of the handwritten character for each handwritten character. And a mean line segment generating means for generating a mean line segment of each line segment between two predetermined feature points of various shapes of the handwritten character by designating a predetermined reference or condition. 3. The handwritten character generating means for generating the handwritten character to be a target for designating a feature point by the feature point designating means, based on the generated average line segment. Shape processing device. 5. A character decomposing means for decomposing the various characters and the handwritten character into partial shapes by designating a predetermined rule or condition, and designating a correspondence relationship between the feature points and The shape processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the intermediate line is generated for each of the partial shapes. 6. The character display means for displaying the shape of the character generated by the character generation means, and the character deforming means for designating the deformation of the displayed character shape. Shape processing apparatus in any one of -5. 7. A character font storage means for storing a plurality of different character fonts for various characters, a characteristic information storage means for storing characteristic information on the character shape of each stored character font, and the character font storage means. Character font selection means for selecting a plurality of different character fonts having the same character code from the character fonts stored in the character font, and character font correspondence for associating the shapes of the selected different character fonts with each other based on the characteristic information. A shape processing apparatus comprising: an attaching means and a character generating means for generating a character font having an intermediate shape from the associated character fonts by designating a predetermined criterion or condition. . 8. A feature information extracting unit for extracting the feature information from the plurality of character fonts using a predetermined rule is provided, and part or all of the feature information is extracted as the feature information. The shape processing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the shape processing apparatus extracts the shape. 9. A feature point of a character contour line or a partial line segment of a contour line, or a feature point of a skeleton of a character or a partial line segment of a skeleton is used as the feature information. Shape processing device described. 10. The character generation means uses the feature points of the contour line of the character or the partial line segments of the contour line, or the feature points of the skeleton of the character or the partial line segment of the skeleton to determine the shape of the plurality of characters from the shape of the plurality of characters. The shape processing device according to claim 3, 5 or 6, wherein a character having an intermediate shape is generated. 11. A feature point is a corner point on a line segment, a pole point,
The shape processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein any one of a connecting point and a discontinuous point or a combination of a plurality of them is used. 12. The method according to claim 1, wherein a region from the associated feature point to the intermediate feature point or a region from the partial line segment to the intermediate segment line is generated by using spline interpolation. The shape processing device according to any one of claims. 13. The shape processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a graphic having an intermediate shape is generated for a graphic other than a character instead of the character.